3 Acoustic Pearl Jam Songs That Have Stood the Test of Time

The Seattle-born grunge rock band Pearl Jam not only has one of the strangest monikers in popular music history, but they boast a versatile style that has subsisted for three-plus decades and continues to go strong. One of the reasons the group has lasted this long is because they write songs of all sorts, from head-banging offerings to ones more delicate, rooted in the acoustic guitar.

Here below, we wanted to explore three tunes that fall in the latter category. A trio of songs that take advantage of the acoustic six-string. Not only did Pearl Jam star in an MTV Unplugged session, but the group recorded several great acoustic tracks on their studio albums. Indeed, these are three acoustic Pearl Jam songs that have stood the test of time.

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“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” from Vs. (1993)

This song from the band’s 1993 sophomore LP Vs. is about vaguely recognizing someone. But it’s also about the human experience and time passing. Lead singer Eddie Vedder wrote the track while the band was recording their new LP in San Francisco and he did so quickly. Vedder later said it took him about 20 minutes and he didn’t even write any lyrics down. Then, after band member Stone Gossard said he liked it, the band recorded it that day. Sometimes the best work comes out the easiest. On the acoustic-driven track, Vedder sings,

I seem to recognize your face

Haunting, familiar yet

I can’t seem to place it

Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name

Lifetimes are catching up with me

All these changes taking place

I wish I’d seen the place

But no one’s ever taken me

Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away

Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away

“Daughter” from Vs. (1993)

Another from Pearl Jam’s sophomore LP, this song tells the sad story of a child who has an undiagnosed learning disability. But because of her brain chemistry, her parents and other adults believe she needs to be disciplined, that she is just trying not to behave or learn traditionally. Vedder has said the song is about a good, creative person who is just destroyed by unthinking adults. And on the acoustic song, he sings mournfully,

Alone, listless

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room

Young girl, violence

Center of her own attention

The mother reads aloud, child tries to understand it

Tries to make her proud

The shades go down, it’s in her head

Painted room, can’t deny there’s something wrong

“Just Breathe” from Backspacer (2009)

This song from the band’s 2009 LP Backspacer is about the fact we’re all going to die one day. It’s inevitable. The curtain will close, the lights will go dark for us all. And to look it in the eye is the only thing we can do. The song also highlights the need for good relationships in the face of this truth. Pearl Jam performs the song intimately, using a delicate acoustic, as Vedder sings about keeping steady and just breathing. He croons over the acoustic,

Yes, I understand

That every life must end

As we sit alone

I know someday we must go

Oh, I’m a lucky man

To count on both hands

The ones I love

Some folks just have one

Yeah, others they got none

Stay with me

Let’s just breathe

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